I just wanted to say quick that I am taking all the suggestions I've received into account and going to try and incorporate all off them. It just may be a while before you guys see it, because of all the chapters I already had written; but your ideas will be there eventually :)

Anyway, enjoy a much needed Hiccup/Toothless moment!

Entry 93

Toothless and I went out today. It's the first time we have since I went on that flight a week ago, and I have to admit… it feels really nice.

Of course, he wouldn't let me walk into town (overprotective reptile…) but just being in fresh air and seeing something other than the wooden walls of my house was more than enough. On the way, I got some… mixed reactions. Several people cheerfully greeted us, but others gave stony glares. I didn't think everyone on the island would just suddenly become okay with how it's changed (and obviously they're not), but it surprised me how many seemed to be embracing it, too.

After our trek through town, I told Toothless to go to the cliff just outside of Berk, because I had something to show him. He did, and once we were there, I slid off his saddle (despite his growling).

"Toothless, stop worrying," I said. "I'm never going to get better at this if you don't let me try." He glared at me again but made no more sound. "Besides, I brought you here for a reason." I took a couple steps forward, pleased how, even if my steps still fell uneven, I could TAKE them. I turned toward Toothless, gesturing to our surroundings. "See this field, Toothless?" I asked, and he looked around, nodding. "This is where it all started," I said, before turning to face the cliff again. And, as if I was seeing it all again, the blue sky seemed to turn to night, the breeze grew to the sound of dragons roaring, and the slight silhouette of a Night Fury graced the skies. "I was standing right here. Right in this spot… when I saw you." Toothless crooned, realizing what I was talking about. He stepped up beside me, looking to the sky as well. "I had this bola launching machine, and I fired it blindly, not for a moment thinking it would hit anything. But a second later, I heard a dragon's screech, and I just barely made out the silhouette of it falling, off toward those woods." I pointed in the direction of Raven Point. "But never once did I imagine things would turn out this way…"

Toothless cooed, seemingly trying to picture the scene I'd described. I wondered what he saw, from his side. Probably not much… sky one second, and rope the next. How… how did he feel about it all?

I know how I feel. I feel awful for hurting him, directly or indirectly, but… I also don't regret it either. I wish I could've met Toothless in a way that he didn't lose his flight, but I'd never wish I hadn't met him. He's changed my life so much, and I'm more than grateful for that fateful bola shot. I just wanted to know what HE thought of it. And… I got my answer.

Toothless motioned to his saddle, wanting me to get on. I did, and he started running off toward Raven Point.

I recognized the area immediately. The torn up trees, the dragon-sized ditch in the ground… it was where Toothless had crashed, and where I set him free. I got off him again, asking why we were here. In response, he stood on his hind legs, clawing at one of the trees, which had several branches stripped and broken.

"Something about this tree?"

Toothless nodded before he jumped up onto one of the branches, which only had about three feet left attached to the tree, the break splintered and torn. Toothless lifted his tail, setting the fake tailfin at the edge of the branch.

And it clicked. "This… this is where you lost your tailfin. This tree… this branch." He nodded again, jumping back down to me. I stepped forward, studying the branch. It was low on the tree, just above eye level. If he had just hit the trunk even one foot higher, he might not have ever lost anything. A shiver ran through me, and I dragged my fingers over the break in the wood, trying to picture it all. How horrifying that must have been, to be falling blindly, crashing through tree after tree, trying anything to stop yourself, only to feel a piece of you be torn off in the process. "I am sorry, Toothless," I said, turning back to him.

But what he did in response surprised me. He shook his head, coming up next to me and curling his tail around us, so his prosthetic came to rest next to mine. "What is it, Bud?" He pressed his head into my side, and I scratched his jaw, getting him to hum contentedly. That was when I knew just how he felt.

I'm not the only one happier now than I was half a year ago. Both Toothless and I have been through a lot, but we're better together than we ever were apart.

And neither of us would change a thing.

Until next time…

-H